Legendary Australian fast bowler Glenn McGrath reckons the visitors are relying heavily on Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar series against India. There is no doubt that Smith and Labuschagne are Australia’s two best batters but the tourists need to come up with a collective batting show.
Australia has managed scores of 177, 91, 263, and 113 in the series. Labuschagne is Australia’s leading run-getter in the series with 119 runs in two Test matches at an average of 29.75 whereas Smith has scored 71 runs in two Test matches at 23.67.
McGrath feels the whole batting unit will have to stand up if Australia are to challenge the potent Indian team.
As quoted by the Indian Express, he said: “I think they’re relying too much on Smith and Marnus at the moment. Travis Head has had a really good year as well. The whole batting line-up has to stand up. I think they haven’t settled on a game plan on how to play spin in India that they are confident with and can execute. In the first Test, they were too defensive, and in the second Test, they were too aggressive. So we will see if they’ve learned from those two matches.”
On the other hand, India’s lower order has consistently troubled the Australian bowlers as they have added invaluable runs. Axar Patel is the second-highest run-getter in the series with 158 runs whereas Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin have scored 96 and 60 respectively.
“They haven’t been able to come and clean up the tail. The last three batters have put on 160-plus. They are the ones causing problems. Whether they got the bowling changes right? Maybe Pat Cummins could have come in earlier. Australia has a long way to turn things around. If they leave the shores with the scoreline not being 4-0, I think they would have done well.”
Australia will have to come up with a better batting performance to stay alive in the series. Furthermore, Mitchell Starc is expected to be part of the playing XI and he is known to wipe out the tail with his deadly yorkers.
The third Test match will be played at the Holkar Cricket Stadium, Indore from Wednesday onwards.
